Vector
compositing node

This operation performs vector operations on the input. The input planes
are considered to be arbitrary vectors (either 2, 3 or 4 elements).
Scalar planes (like alpha) are treated like 1 element vectors.

Scoping

This operation may be restricted to certain planes, or
components of planes. In addition, the operation may be applied
to a subset of frames within the sequence. An image must have
both its frame and plane scoped to be modified.

Images that are not modified are passed through, which does not
take any memory or processing time.

Masking

This operation may be masked, which restricts the operation to
an area of the image. The mask may be inverted, brightened or
dimmed.

The mask input is on the side of the node. The label on the
connector indicates the plane being used as a mask.

The mask input can also be scaled to fit the output image’s resolution, if they differ. If this node is changing constantly, and the mask is not, it is somewhat faster to put a Scale COP down to do the resize for the mask image. Otherwise, the scale will occur every time this node cooks.

Collapsible Pixel Operation

This is a collapsible pixel operation. When placed in sequence
with other collapsible pixel operations, the operations are
combined into one operation at the final node in the pixel
operation sequence. This is known as a collapsible pixel
operation chain.

Image data flowing through the chain is only quantized at the
end of the chain. This allows the intermediate operations to
produce and carry values outside the normal range of the pixels'
data format, with floating point precision. The net result of
this is a reduction in quantization error and black/white
clipping (especially useful for integer formats).

Collapsible pixel operations are recognizable by the light blue
background color of the node’s icon. If a node of a different
color is inserted between two collapsible COPs, the chain will
be broken at that point and the operations will not collapse
anymore.

Collapsible pixel operations are maskable and scopable. If one
operation in the chain is masked, but the others are not (or do
not share the same mask), the chain will be 'broken' at that
point and quantization will occur at that node. Differences in
scoping does not cause a break in the chain.

Parameters

Vector

Operation

Specifies the operation to perform.

Normalize Vectors

Scales all components so the magnitude is exactly 1.

Transform Points

Transforms the vectors as if they were points by the
following Transform parameters.

Orient Vectors

Rotates the vectors as if they were normals.

Transform Order

Defines the transformation for transforming the vectors.

Collapsible Pixel Operation Parameters

Collapsible pixel operations can be combined with other
collapsible pixel operations and have the result computed in one
pass, rather than at each node. The operations must be in
sequence, without other nodes between them.

Do Operation in Unpremultiplied Space

The Color plane will the divided by the input alpha, and
multiplied by the output alpha so that the color operation
is done in unpremultiplied space. If this operation is in a
collapsible chain, all the nodes in the chain must have the
same setting of this parameter to avoid breaking the chain
and quantizing.

Quantize

If this node is in the middle of a collapsible pixel chain,
you can force this node to quantize and store the images at
this node.

Mask

A mask can be chosen to limit the effect of the operator to
areas defined by the mask. The mask can be taken from the mask
input (side input) or from the first input itself.

Effect Amount

If no mask is present, this blends the output with the input
by a constant amount (0 = all input, 1 = all output).

If a mask is present, this amount multiplies the mask.

Operation Mask

Selects the mask plane to use as a mask from the mask input.
The mask can be selected from:

A mask can be a component of a plane or an entire plane. If
a vector plane is supplied as a mask, its components are
multiplied by the images' components.

Scalar Mask ('A', 'C.r')

C.r = I.r * M
C.g = I.g * M
C.b = I.b * M

Vector Mask ('C')

C.r = I.r * M.r
C.g = I.g * M.g
C.b = I.b * M.b

First Input

Useful for masking the operation to the image’s own
alpha plane.

Mask Input

Selects the mask from the side mask input.

Off

Turns off masking, without requiring disconnection of
the mask input (useful for temporarily disabling the
mask).

Resize Mask to Fit Image

If the mask image is a different resolution than the output
image, turning on this parameter will scale the mask to the
output image’s resolution.

If this node is changing constantly, and the mask is not, it
is somewhat faster to put a Scale COP down to do the resize
for the mask image. Otherwise, the scale will occur every
time this node cooks.

Invert Mask

Inverts the mask so that all fully 'masked' portions become
unmasked. This saves you from inserting an Invert COP after
the node with the mask.

Scope

Plane Scope

Specifies the scope for both the RGB components of Color,
Alpha, and other planes. The (C)RGBA mask only affects Color
components and Alpha. 'C' will toggle all the RGB
components.

For planes other than Color and Alpha, the plane name (plus
component, if applicable) should be specified in the string
field. The pulldown menu can be used to select planes or
components present in this node.

A plane is specified by its name. A component is specified
by both its plane and component name. The '*' wildcard may
be used to scope all extra planes. Any number of planes or
components can be specified, separated by spaces.

Examples:

P
N.x N.y
P N Pz

Frame Scope

Frame Scope

Allows scoping of specific frames in the frame range. This
is in addition to the plane scope (so a plane at a certain
frame must be both plane scoped and frame scoped to be
modified).

All Frames

All frames are scoped.

Inside Range

All frames inside a subrange are scoped.

Outside Range

All frames outside a subrange are scoped.

Even Frames

Even numbered frames are scoped.

Odd Frames

Odd numbered frames are scoped.

Specific Frames

A user-defined list of frames are scoped.

Frame Range

For Inside/Outside range, this parameter specifies the
subrange of the sequence to scope (or unscope). This can be
edited in Timeline viewer mode (⌃ Ctrl + 2 in viewer).

Frame Dropoff

For Inside/Outside Range, this parameter specifies certain
number of frames before and after to slowly ramp up to
scoped. The operation will be blended with its input to
'ease in' or 'ease out' the scoping effect over a number of
frames. This can be edited in Timeline viewer mode
(⌃ Ctrl + 2 in viewer).

Non-scoped Effect

For unscoped frames, this sets the blend factor between the
input and modified images. Normally this is zero (use the
input image). By setting this to a non-zero value, you can
make unscoped frames be 'slightly' unscoped. The value can
vary between 0 (unscoped) and 1 (scoped).

Frame List

The frame list for 'Specific Frames'. Frame numbers should
be separated by spaces.

Automatically Adjust for Length Changes

If the sequence range changes, enabling this parameter will
adjust the subrange and frame dropoff lengths to fit the new
range.